Have you suffered from chronic pain and have been prescribed long-term opioid medication as a result of this?
I’m conducting a research project at the University of Derby, which is exploring the experiences of individuals who have been on opioid medication for at least 6 months or longer due to chronic pain. Opioids are often used as medicines because they contain chemicals that relax the body and can relieve pain. Many people get prescribed opioid medication for chronic pain as the main treatment pathway for living with the pain. Some examples of opioid medication are codeine, tramadol, fentanyl, oxycodone, buprenorphine etc. The study will involve an interview being conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams/ Skype and a series of questions being asked by the researcher regarding your experiences with the opioid medication. The interview will take approximately 1 hour to complete. The interviews will be audio recorded for research purposes and all identifiable information will be removed from the study.
Please contact me for further information.
Contact details:
100504907@unimail.derby.ac.uk
Contact details for supervisor:
J.Elander@Derby.ac.uk (James Elander)
Written by
katherine1801
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Hello, I have been on co-codamol 30/500 since 2004. Tried various Pain relief, chiropractor, osteopath, Physio, Acupuncture and spinal injections. Had cervical neck injections, a multitude of exercises and stretches all for discs in back and neck, a lifetime of hard outside construction work, including working a saw mill with large oak beams, supervisor in a builders merchants, lifting heavy bags or steel. I have also had 5 motorcycle accidents, hitting the road three times, once at 70mph. After many MRI scans my GP told me my spine was worn out, and as I have tried so many other ways to help my day to day pain levels, I have found that regular movement, exercise, like in the garden work, or cycle riding together with the meds I am on enable me some kind of normal day. Pain is always there but balanced as long as I do not try too much. I have a curve in my thoracic spine since birth which turns out to be Scheuermann's disease. Not treated or told about this until 2 years ago discovered on my recent MRI.
I have a very busy family of six children, 3 are registered disabled, ASD, Diabetes type 1 and ADHD. If I run out or miss my dose pain levels return and my body begins to shut down which means I am unable to keep at balanced levels and cannot do anything. Too long and I feel quite ill.
So this is why I am reliant on these meds now. They have given me a Hiatus hernia and reflux issues. I take 16 pills per day, 8 are co-codamol, some pregabalin and amitriptyline amongst others. I recently had covid 19 and was very ill. I am ok tho and keep happy for my kids, try to do as much as I can and love my wife and family, they keep me going.
Hi Katherine1801. I don’t think you’re going to find many people who would agree to be interviewed. I may be wrong but I don’t like speaking on the phone or face to face because I have other issues apart from pain eg. RD with Secondary Sjögren’s which means my mouth just dries up and I start to feel self-conscious. I also have fibromyalgia and CFS/ME, a combination of which leaves me with ‘brain fog’, loss of concentration and I can quickly lose the thread of what I’m talking about. On my own, I can type with one finger on my phone and explain things with no problems. Any thought of being recorded and I wouldn’t be able to function due to foreseeing everything that might go wrong. I’m sure others might feel the same.
I’ve been taking opioids for many years. Following a hysterectomy in 2001, I was on a morphine pump which made me sick so went on to Co-codamol. The same happened for back pain. Following back surgery I was given oxycodone which I said I couldn’t take because it made me sick so went on to try various pain meds because of my Rheumatoid Disease and Fibromyalgia. I went on slow release MSC which made me sick, Burprenorphine Patches that made me sick. Gradually I became intolerant of all DMARDS, Gabapentin and NSAIDS which affected my stomach. I always went back to Co-codomol. My Rheumatologist suggested that perhaps I might tolerate a low dose of 5ml of liquid morphine sulphate. At last something worked alongside quarterly intramuscular Depo-medrone steroid injections and Amitriptyline. I took Co-codomol with senna for years until I had a bowel blockage which resulted in emergency surgery to remove part of my colon. I was lucky and didn’t need a stoma and colostomy bag. I was put on oxycodone following the surgery which made me violently sick (again). I carried on with my liquid morphine at 7.5ml per day with Paracetamol and an extra 5ml later in the day if I really needed it. Unfortunately in 2020 my back gave way and I had to attend A&E. I took my own medication with me. When I was offered something stronger, I declined because I knew it would make me sick. I required more surgery. I took my own medication into hospital and there was no problem. Unfortunately, the surgery was unsuccessful so I am still on pain relief of 7.5ml of morphine in the morning, Paracetamol (between 4-8 500mg tablets per day), Amitriptyline 25mg at night and keep Diazepam to take for muscle spasms if required (probably 1 or 2 per week). I take Macrogol daily to prevent constipation.
In other words I’m trusted to control my own pain and considering I have a mixture of joint pain, muscle pain, nerve pain and pain resulting from severe degenerative disc disease and CFS/ME I feel I cope with this very well, mainly on my own with regular checks with my Rheumatologist.
I also find a heat pad invaluable.
My GP seems to think a (privatised) Pain Clinic is the way forward but breathing and pelvic floor exercises didn’t help at the last three PC’s I attended and I was offered nothing else. I’m aware that the Government are determined to target people who are disabled or have health conditions as we are deemed to be costing them too much. I disagree. That is just my opinion and I don’t consider myself ‘Dopesick’!
Hi, thank you for sharing your story with me, I really appreciate it. I understand you saying that some people may not feel comfortable, that's understandable. But, once again I really appreciate you sharing that information with me, so thank you
Hi Katherine, I think needing a hour interview from a participant will mean many can't take part. An hour is not a short time if have ME as well as chronic pain.
Hiya, yeah I did have someone take part and it was just over 20 minutes long. It would not take any longer than 20 minutes I'd say it just depends on how long the individual speaks for kind of thing. It is recommended I put a bit longer just in case it went over the time stated if that makes sense. But yeah the one I did do only took 20 mins and it was a good interview.
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